Ralph McQuarrie Dead: 'Star Wars' Designer Dies At 82

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of such a visionary artist and such a humble man," George Lucas, McQuarrie's co-visualizer behind the trilogy, wrote in a statement on starwars.com. "Ralph McQuarrie was the first person who helped me envision 'Star Wars'... When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph's fabulous illustrations and say, 'Do it like this.'"

McQuarrie was also recognized for his work on "E.T. The Extraterrestrial" and "Raiders Of The Lost Ark," and won an Academy Award in 1986 for his work on Ron Howard's "Cocoon."